1.6.12

Since I started this blog, hunting and gathering new props has
become a new pleasure. I really like spend hours in shops searching for unique
and beautiful pieces. Besides using them for food styling, they are also
a great source of inspiration. Weeks ago I was in an antique shop in
Chagrin Falls and I found a vintage Haviland & Co plate. I fell in love
with it immediately. I started to imagine a whole post inspired by the
graceful French rose pattern. So I created a little dessert table with painted
cookies and mini cakes.

Recently I bought the wonderful book Pastries by Pierre Hermé,
so I decided to try the chocolate cake recipe. It’s so rich and good. It
matched perfectly with the dark chocolate ganache that I used as filling and
frosting. I made one recipe and I cut it into 4 layers using a 3-inch ring
mold. So this way I could prepare two mini cakes. I used gel food coloring
for painting the fondant for the cookies and one of the cakes. For the other
cake I made a sugar rose.

Butter a 9-inch (22cm) cake pan, flour it, then tap to
release any excess and tip it out.

Using a serrated knife, chop the chocolate. Melt it in a
bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water; the bottom of the bowl should not
touch the water. When the chocolate has melted, remove the bowl from the
bain-marie. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the wire whisk attachment,
beat the butter with the sugar and add the eggs one by one. Add the melted
chocolate, and mix well, then sift the flour and incorporate it.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Place the pan
in the oven and bake the cake for 40 minutes, wedging the oven door open with a
wooden spoon. Remove the cake from the oven and unmold it onto a wire
rack.

Wow, those are incredibly beautiful. I usually don't comment on food blogs, but I am blown away by that sugar flower and how beautiful and smooth your fondant looks. Do you have any advice for a beginner? (Or would you care to make a tutorial, haha?)

Your painted flowers are glorious. I would hesitate to eat these cookies and cakes because they are too pretty to eat and look like they should be put away as heirlooms. You really have an artist's hands.

Your post took my breath away while I was in the car. I saw your update came in and I was in awe! My husband asked me what happened and I showed him the pictures. He said you are amazing. I know you really are!!! Beautiful work!!!

just found your blog and I am totally in love with it - this is what I aspire to become! Beautiful food and images - beyond amazing!would be so honoured if you visited my humble blog and gave me some advice/ opinion!

just found your blog and I am totally in love with it - this is what I aspire to become! Beautiful food and images - beyond amazing!would be so honoured if you visited my humble blog and gave me some advice/ opinion!

Hi. I've just come across your blog and, although I'm sure it's nothing you haven't heard before, I just HAD to tell you that this, here, is one of the most beautiful places I've found on the internet. It's absolutely amazing and I can't wait to go through it all. This is art, poetry and yummy goodness (I can only imagine) all rolled into one. So there, I said it :) Thank you for the lovely experience.

I'm going to feature this in my blog's daily foodporn list called "Daily Foodporn For Your Inspiration". Check it out. You might get to find a new cooking and food blogs too. Don't worry, I will definitely link back here.

Unbelievable ! Unbelievably Beautiful ... I've just this second come across your blog (hence the 'anon'profile ... will sort this bit out in a mo) and it's blown me away, you must be so proud to be so talented ... I can't even get a crumb layer right !! Your work is beyond stunning and very inspirational ! I'll definetely be saving your blog - Sess